System and method for converting an incoming image into electronic form

Abstract

A system (50) and method for converting an incoming image of a scene (12) into electronic form adapted for use with focal plane arrays of detectors (24, 28). The inventive system (50) includes a surface (30) having an electromagnetic energy transmissive region (34), a reflective region (32), and a transition region (36) that has varying reflectance. A first focal plane array (24) detects a first portion (18, 39, 43) of the incoming image (12) that is transmitted through the transmissive region and the transition region (36). A second focal plane array (28) detects a second portion of the incoming image (20, 41, 45) reflected by the reflective region (32) and the transition region (36). An image combining system (40) combines the first (43) and second portions (45) of the incoming image via an image combining algorithm and provides a combined image without a dead pixel region. In the illustrative embodiment, the incoming image (12) is focused onto the surface (30) via a first lens (22). The surface (30) is a glass surface having a coating with varying degrees of reflectance across the surface (30). In the transition region (36) the glass surface (30) changes from completely transmissive to completely reflective. The gradient of reflectance in the transition region (36) is pre-determined and varies in accordance with information in the image combining algorithm. In the specific embodiment, a second lens (26) focuses the first portion (43) of the incoming image (12) onto the first focal plane array (24). A third lens (26) focuses the second portion (45) of the incoming image (12) onto the second focal plane array. Electromagnetic energy detected by the first (24) and the second (28) focal plane arrays is converted into electronic signals that are fed to a computer (40) running software that includes the image combining algorithm. The image combining algorithm includes a correlation algorithm for maximizing image registration. The image combining system also includes a display monitor (46) for displaying a combined image.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for converting an incoming image into electronic form comprising: an image separating surface having an electromagnetic energy transmissive region, a reflective region, and a transition region that has varying reflectance;   means for detecting a first portion of said incoming image transmitted through said transmissive region and said transition region and for detecting a second portion of said incoming image reflected by said reflective region and said transition region; and   means for electronically combining said first and second portions of said incoming image, thereby eliminating a dead pixel region related to said transition region.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said transition region is between said reflective region and said transmissive region, and has spatially varying reflectance. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting includes a first focal plane array for detecting said first portion of said image and a second focal plane array for detecting said second portion of said image. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said first portion of said image is focused onto said first focal plane array via a second lens. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said first portion of said image is focused onto said first focal plane array via a first relay optical system. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 3 wherein said second portion of said image is focused onto said second focal plane array via a third lens. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 3 wherein said second portion of said image is focused onto said second focal plane array via a second relay optical system. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said surface is a sheet of transparent material including a means for varying the degree of reflectance of said transparent material. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said means for varying includes a coating having varying degrees of reflectance. 
     
     
       10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said means for varying includes a grating that partially reflects and partially transmits electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
       11. The invention of claim 1 wherein at said transition region, said surface changes abruptly from reflective to transmissive. 
     
     
       12. The invention of claim 1 wherein the gradient of reflectance across said surface varies in accordance with the image combining algorithm. 
     
     
       13. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for combining includes a computer. 
     
     
       14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said computer includes software for running a correlation algorithm for maximizing image registration. 
     
     
       15. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for combining includes an image combining algorithm running on a processing module. 
     
     
       16. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for combining includes a display monitor. 
     
     
       17. The invention of claim 1 wherein said incoming image is focused onto said surface via a first lens. 
     
     
       18. The invention of claim 1 wherein said transmissive region, transition region, and reflective region have approximately the same reflectivities. 
     
     
       19. A method for eliminating a dead pixel region between a first and second focal plane array image comprising the steps of: obtaining a surface having an electromagnetic energy transmissive region, a reflective region, and a transition region that has varying degrees of reflectance;   detecting a first portion of said incoming image transmitted through said transmissive region and said transition region;   detecting a second portion of said incoming image reflected by said reflective region and said transition region; and   electronically combining said first and second portions of said incoming image, thereby eliminating said dead pixel region between said first and second focal plane array image.   
     
     
       20. A system for reducing information loss when imaging electromagnetic energy comprising: means for transmitting a first portion of said electromagnetic energy onto a first path;   means for reflecting a second portion of said electromagnetic energy onto a second path;   transition means therebetween for selectively reflecting and transmitting said electromagnetic energy onto said first path and said second path; and   means for electronically combing electromagnetic energy from said first path and said second path, thereby reducing information loss corresponding to said transition region.